Forget the "Bradley experiment", Pressey should be running this team

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

So who would be the starting SG if Pressey started at the point? Lee has th most size, I think. Bradley's the incumbent. What of Brooks or Crawford?

[Bankshot]

Pressey should start at point until Rondo returns, then back Rondo up.  I don't care if Pressey is only a rookie, he's a much better point guard than Bradley.  Bradley is awful running the point.  I don't want to see him there anymore.

[Snakehead]

I don't think this thread is accurate as Bradley has never been the PG and "running the team" (it's been something Crawford has been doing more than him) but anyways, Pressey is earning legit minutes and yes maybe should be starting now.

He and Fav both look like legit options.

So who would be the starting SG if Pressey started at the point? Lee has th most size, I think. Bradley's the incumbent. What of Brooks or Crawford?

Lee has been playing a bit better but it has to be Pressey/Bradley starters and then Crawford off the bench then I suppose Lee.  I haven't seen anything this preseason to change my opinion of Brooks.

[hwangjini_1]

sure, why not? he will make a ton of mistakes and turnovers, but the celtics are going to lose anyway so why not have pressey pick up lots of experience?

throw him into the fire and see if he can really be an nba player or not.

pressey seems to have the skills for an nba pg. the question, i think, is about his judgement and decision making. even if he is capable of playing in the nba, he is at least a few years away from being a GOOD nba pg. so why not start his training sooner rather than later?

of course, a similar argument could be made for vitor at center, but that is for another thread. 

[Global Celtic]

Brad Stevens said it a few months ago: "You have to trust what your eyes are telling you and let performance dictate who should play." Right now, my eyes are telling me this:

a) Pressey is the most logical option at the PG position, regardless of "experience".

b) Avery doesn't feel comfortable handling the ball. He should concentrate on cutting and making those mid-range jumpers.

c) Some players are (and feel) better coming of the bench - Courtney Lee is one of them.

d) Gerald Wallace is a pivotal point in this team right now - playing the 3 or the 4, he has to be on the floor bacause of his energy, versatility and savviness.

e) Faverani is playing his b*** off and should be our center, regardless of "experience".

 

[sed522002]

This is what Brad said today

Baxter Holmes ‏@BaxterHolmes
Brad Stevens on PG Phil Pressey: "I think at times that we’ve played our best basketball with him on the floor."

[green147]

Pressey is the only one who can penetrate the defense, which is why we play so much better when he's in the game. The problem is that guys like CP3, Westbrook, Kyrie and DRose would have a field day with Pressey. It's a catch 22 situation until Rondo gets back.

[Celtics18]

I think folks are missing the point (pun not intended).  I think the basic truth is that until Rondo returns, we don't have a starting caliber point guard on this team.  In the meantime, I don't mind starting Bradley at guard, with Wallace and Green on the wings.  Bradley's not a point guard, but I do think he's our best guard.  I'm comfortable running something of a point guard-less offense and letting the ball handling duties be handled by committee.

Again, I love Pressey off the bench.  But, I think he'd get eaten alive going up against real NBA teams' starting lineups in the regular season.  As that "prototypical point guard," he's someone who needs the ball in his hands to be effective by probing, penetrating and dishing.  I like bringing that change of pace that he represents in to the game around the quarter breaks against other teams' subs, but not full time.  I think it would get ugly fast.

I don't think it would be good for the team or for Phil's development for him to be named our starting point guard to start the season. 

[LooseCannon]

Ultimately, I am okay with the idea of Pressey potentially taking playing time away from Crawford, Brooks, and Lee.  I am not okay with the idea of Pressey taking playing time away from Bradley.

[kozlodoev]

e) Faverani is playing his b*** off and should be our center, regardless of "experience".

He may not have NBA experience, but he turned pro at 17 and in a foreign country to boot. I think he'll be fine. I was less than thrilled with this signing initially, but so far it's abundantly clear he's our most competent center.

[kozlodoev]

Ultimately, I am okay with the idea of Pressey potentially taking playing time away from Crawford, Brooks, and Lee.  I am not okay with the idea of Pressey taking playing time away from Bradley.

I still don't understand the fascination with Bradley. He shot .400 last season and has now followed that up with shooting .380 in preseason. He's horrible offensively, a one-trick pony defensively... and the league is catching up with the trick, too.

[D.o.s.]

e) Faverani is playing his b*** off and should be our center, regardless of "experience".

He may not have NBA experience, but he turned pro at 17 and in a foreign country to boot. I think he'll be fine. I was less than thrilled with this signing initially, but so far it's abundantly clear he's our most competent center.

I believe he signed his first pro deal at 14--which is why he was referred to as an 11 year veteran at the age of 25 by Mike, Tommy, or someone else on the broadcast team during last night's preseason game.

[LooseCannon]

Ultimately, I am okay with the idea of Pressey potentially taking playing time away from Crawford, Brooks, and Lee.  I am not okay with the idea of Pressey taking playing time away from Bradley.

I still don't understand the fascination with Bradley. He shot .400 last season and has now followed that up with shooting .380 in preseason. He's horrible offensively, a one-trick pony defensively... and the league is catching up with the trick, too.

He's not going to be that guy you want dribbling the ball in the half-court on offense, but he has the potential to be a respectable catch-and-shoot jump-shooter who could make 45% of long twos and 37-38% of threes.  He's not a good fit for an offense with a lot of isolations, but he can be useful in one that stresses ball movement.

[kozlodoev]

e) Faverani is playing his b*** off and should be our center, regardless of "experience".

He may not have NBA experience, but he turned pro at 17 and in a foreign country to boot. I think he'll be fine. I was less than thrilled with this signing initially, but so far it's abundantly clear he's our most competent center.

I believe he signed his first pro deal at 14--which is why he was referred to as an 11 year veteran at the age of 25 by Mike, Tommy, or someone else on the broadcast team during last night's preseason game.

Yeah, I remembered the number 14, but then only found data about his first contract in Spain at 17, so I changed my post. But yes, he's the polar opposite of Melo in terms of basketball upbringing, and it shows.

Very optimistic about him and Olynyk. I like smart big men who understand the game and can pass in a pinch.

[billysan]

Very optimistic about him and Olynyk. I like smart big men who understand the game and can pass in a pinch.

And they both run the floor hard. The effort level is so refreshing compared to most of our other non KG big men the past few years. We could actually become a running team with the two of them playing the 4-5.

Let's not forget that Pressey was playing against all non starters for the Nets last nite. He has done a lot of good things on the court this Pre Season and Summer League, but the level of competion has been minimal for much of the time. That same disclaimer of course applies to Avery Bradley.